Croydon

Croydon's population expanded in the 10 years leading up to the latest census. Data from the census also show there were changes in relationships, ethnicity and work life.

The population passed 360,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Croydon increased by 9.9%, from almost 331,000 to 363,000.

The addition of almost 33,000 people means this area's population increased faster than the rate of growth across England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Croydon was home to, on average, 30 people per football pitch-sized piece of land (about 7,140 square metres).

Population density was lower than the average across London

Population density (usual residents per 7,140 square metres) across London, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

Croydon stood out from other areas for housing

In Croydon, the proportion went up from 17% in 2001 to 18% in 2011. During the same period, the regional proportion fell from 26% to 24%.

Private renting in Croydon increased from 13% to 21%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 68% to 59%.

The rate of social housing was lower than across London

Percentage of households that that rented socially across local authority areas in London and the average across England, March 2011

More single parents

The percentage of households in Croydon, which comprised a single parent, increased from 12% to 16% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just under 3 in 10 (30%) households had a married couple, compared with 32% in 2001. The percentage of households in Croydon, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 7.4% to 8.0%.

The proportion of single-parent households increased faster here than the figure for the whole of London (from 11% in 2001 to 13% in 2011). Across England, the proportion increased from 9.5% to 11%.

The percentage of households with a single-parent in Croydon increased by 3.5 percentage points

Percentage of households in Croydon, London and England that had a single parent, March 2001 and March 2011

More homes with adult children living with their parents

This area saw London's third-largest rise in the proportion of households with adult children living with their parents.

Across the region, only Harrow (from 12% to 14%) and Hillingdon (from 10% to 12%) saw a greater increase in the proportion of households with adult children living with their parents.

During this period, Croydon overtook four local authority areas, including Ealing and Barking and Dagenham, to become the London local authority area with the 10th-highest percentage of households with only adult children living with their parents.

In 2011, just under one in nine (11%) households in Croydon had only adult children living with their parents, compared with 9.1% in 2001. The percentage with at least one child increased from 32% to 35%.

The proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents was higher than across London

Percentage of households that where a parent lived with their adult children across local authority areas in London and the average across England, March 2011

Ethnicity in Croydon

The number of people in Croydon from the White ethnic groups increased from just over 230,000 in 2001 to just over 200,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 70% to 55% of the local population.

The percentage decreased by more than the average across London (from 71% to 60%) and the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in Croydon from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups increased from about 44,000 in 2001 to about 73,000 in 2011 (from 13% to 20%). The number of residents from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from about 40,000 to just under 60,000 (from 12% to 16%).

About 24,000 people (3.7%) said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed), up from about 12,000 in 2001 (6.6%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the ethnic profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between ethnic groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population from the White ethnic groups in Croydon decreased by 15 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, London and Croydon by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Croydon residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 7.6% to 4.6% in the decade to 2011.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (83%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 71% in 2001. The percentage of Croydon residents that described their health as fair decreased from 22% to 12%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (from 8.3% in 2001 to 5.0% in 2011). Across England, the proportion fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Croydon decreased by 3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Croydon, London and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

↑ Back to the top

Area report data

Related links